Pawprints: Giving & Taking

Eee--the holidays are here!!! It didn't really hit me how fast this year has gone by until I was sitting down in front of that big Turkey dinner spread yesterday. (BTW, happy post-Thanksgiving everyone!) And in a couple of days, the next Pawprints story goes on sale at LooseId. W00t!

Pawprints: Giving & Taking
Anne Cain
On sale: December 2, 2008

Adrian and his sexy, dual-Natured boyfriend, Lal, are headed to San Juan for a Christmas cruise in the Caribbean with their close friends Marty and James. While fun-in-the-sun and piña coladas are on the agenda, the one desire burning inside of Adrian is to spend as much time as possible between the sheets with his boyfriend. Adrian adores this “cat” more than he can say with words, so he plans to show his devotion with a special present: for the first time, he’s going to bottom for his lover. But the gift might be too much for Lal to take, especially when his former life as a sex slave taught Lal that’s the one unbreakable rule.

For Marty, his relationship with his lover is put to the test when James’ family balks at the idea of them as a couple. He can’t imagine what his life would be like without his kind, attractive boyfriend, but is his love worth the sacrifice to James? The only way to find out is to put it all on the line and make a promise, sealing it with a ring.

This holiday, these four friends will learn that love is all about giving and taking.

Sexy Comments & Profile Graphics

Yes, Virginia

If I’m looking at my calendar right, this is the time of year when I should make a blog post listing all the things I’m thankful for right? Let’s see, in no particular order: Snickers pie, hot m/m romances to read, single-estate Assam tea, hot m/m romances climbing up the New York Times best-seller list, a seven-figure advance, a page-six item featuring my favorite—Crap! Sorry, that’s my letter to Santa.

Yes, I do still write letters to Santa. I like putting my wishes down in concrete form. Of all the spiritual tenets I’ve come across, my favorite is “And it harm none, do what ye will.” Maybe it’s the hedonist in me, but it seems like a pretty good way to live your life. So I make a few positive requests of the universe, or Santa, or Snow White’s wishing well.

Try it. Neither Santa nor I can make absolute guarantees, especially on those big ticket items, but as long as it brings no one else ill, what’s the harm in asking?

In the wishes-that-have-come-true department, there are some things I can never express sufficient gratitude for: an amazing editor and most of all, readers. Thank you, guys.

So give it a try. Put those wishes out there. I’d love to hear them. Or you could just seal them in an envelope and mail them to the North Pole. It’ll be our secret.

One last prequel to Collision Course on my live journal.

And a great big helping (yes, even bigger than the helping of mashed potatoes my cousin will have on his plate tomorrow) of thank you again for reading.

Still in the throes of NaNoWriMo

D'you remember how I talked, in October, about my two ideas for NaNoWriMo and how, whichever one I went with, hot m/m sex would occur? . . .

Yeah. Not so much.

Okay, I did write a 3K short story that was sweet and spicey like a really good mole sauce, you know? (That one will be available for free starting sometime in December, I think. It was for Samhain's call for holiday short stories. When it's up, I'll let you know.) But the heroes of the novel I'm working on just haven't had a chance to get together yet. 51.5K words in. ::sigh:: Okay, okay. They've only known each other for, like, a week and a half. And one of them is actually working for the other on a short-term job. And they've been too busy living their individual lives to do anything more than think about the other in mildly lascivious ways. I take heart in the fact that at least each knows the other is gay. That's a start, right? I mean, at least they each know there's a chance the other might be interested in him. I'm also taking heart in the fact that I passed 50K on this puppy without having to pad my word count with sex. That's pretty surprising, frankly, and I'm a bit proud of it. But still... WHERE'S THE SEX, BOYS? Honestly. I have got to get this damned ghost moved along its etherial path so that Ben and Todd can finally get it on.

And my CP thinks this is going to turn out to be the first of a series? Gods help us all.

Gobble Gobble

We can all rest easy now, People Magazine has made its choice. I certainly won't dispute it, and I haven't seen the issue yet, so I'd be curious to know who's in the close but no cigar category. I can think of several worthy candidates myself, perhaps think of them doing naughty stuff...sorry, been a rough week here.

Speaking of sexy men (we were) and sexy manlove (we are now), there's still time to pick up Phaze's selection of M/M romance for 25% off using the code BIGFOUR. That's four for years, not inches, mind you. Phaze launched this month in 2004, but did you know that it took almost a full year until their first M/M title was released? Really, I had to look it up, as it happens it was my Halloween short, Jack of Hearts, that made it to the catalog first. I think by then we had a few more M/M titles under contract, but it really wasn't until 2006 when the subgenre bloomed. As this year closes, it's stronger than ever.

Jack was an unusual story to write. I had read quite a bit of GBLT fiction in the past, more mystery than romance, and thought it would be a kick to write a sexy short for Phaze's Shiver line of spooky tales. The concept of reincarnation has always fascinated me, though the jury's still out on whether it's true, so I took what I knew to create the story of an immortal searching for a past love in her latest incarnation. But guess what? Heh. Gotta love karma.

Of course, there is a follow-up, Jack of Diamonds, and I had intended to write more in the series. I had a storyline for Jack of Clubs but fate intervened and the project slipped away. I'm wondering, given how much time I've let lapse, if it would be worth it to write more. They say a new book revives interest in the backlist, so it's always remained in the back of my mind to try. We'll see.

Dreams

I went into Barnes & Noble the other day and perused the fantasy section. Okay, more like...drooled over the fantasy section. So many books... so little time... and money... and space...

Anyway... One thing it did was galvanize me into action.

You see, fantasy has always been my love. I grew up on authors such as Tolkien and CS Lewis, lost myself in Middle Earth and Narnia. As an adult, I still adore those worlds, but I've also discovered new ones -- in literature, in movies, in games.

So what action did it galvanize me to take?

It sparked the need in me to do what I've always dreamed of: to see MY name on a fantasy book from one of the big publishers, like Tor or Daw. I want to write a fantasy series that stays with readers for ages. I want readers to become lost in my worlds, following my characters throughout entire series... and series within those series.

So I am.

It's not that I don't want to write the explicit stuff anymore. Not by any chance. I love writing it. I'll keep writing for my publishers for as long as they'll take me. But I also need to follow my ultimate dreams of becoming the next BIG name in fantasy. Of course... my heroes will be gay. ;)

Win free books!

Just a reminder that I run a contest each month to give away one free copy of my latest release. I have 1 more e-books coming out this month, so that means you have one more chance to win!

• Boytoys (release date 11/21)

To enter, just send an email to me at contest@jmsnyder.net

AND ...

I have an AWESOME contest running through Author Island ~ you can win a signed copy of ALL THREE of my "Vic and Matt" paperback books! That's right, you'll get:

• The Powers of Love Book 1: Origins
• The Bonds of Love
• The Positions of Love

All who enter also receive a fun goody bag. For more information and instructions on how to enter, visit http://tinyurl.com/authorisland and scroll down until you see J.M. Snyder's contest on that page!

New cover!

This is the cover art for the upcoming novel-length sequel to Eight Nights. It's out at Loose Id December 16th! Blurb and excerpt to follow closer to the release date.

New Cover: Furtive Liaison

Due out in February through Amber Allure:

Shawn couldn’t find the time for love, until Marc turned his life upside down in the best way possible. The discovery of a yellow rubber ducky shatters Shawn’s world and sends him on a downward spiral of confusion. Heartbroken, he must determine whether his relationship with Marc was real, or only an illusion of happiness.

Edited to add unedited snippet:

The last place Shawn Delaney planned to be on a Friday night was sitting in his car, parked against the curb of a quiet suburban street several hours outside Manhattan. Acid churned in his gut as he watched his lover for the past six months twirl a dark-headed little boy around and around in circles.

If he didn’t know better, he wouldn’t have suspected the man in front of him was his lover at all. The kohl eyeliner and skin-tight denim he favored were gone, replaced with loose khakis and a plain white polo shirt that hung on his slender frame. The dark locks he spiked with gel were tamed down and slicked back away from his high forehead in a preppy style Shawn never thought he’d see on his young lover. It was like looking at a polished doppelganger of the man he loved.

The child’s exuberant squeals of joy carried on the light breeze and infiltrated Shawn’s car through the closed windows, twisting the metaphorical knife in his chest a little deeper. In true masochistic fashion, he couldn’t stop gazing at the Norman Rockwell scene playing out in front of him.

Shawn didn’t know how he’d gotten there, a spurned lover sitting outside his boyfriend’s house without a clue as to what he planned to do now that he was faced with the concrete proof of his lover’s betrayal. This lovelorn, angry and needy man was not who he wanted to be.

The man he’d always prided himself on being didn’t make himself vulnerable to something as uncertain as commitment. He steered clear of attachments, because he suspected this was the kind of shit he’d end up with for all his trouble. Some people may have inspired love and fidelity, but he clearly wasn’t one of them. He should have fucked Marc and left it that. Like a fool, he’d fallen in love.

And now he was paying for it.

In an ironic twist of fate, he’d been the catalyst for his own heartache. It was him who’d dug and dug for dirt, convinced his lover was hiding something from him. His mother’s admonitions from his childhood rang in his ears, taunting him with the knowledge that he’d brought this on himself.

Be careful for what you ask for…

Keith Olbermann on Gay Marriage

I'm not a big news watcher, but I found this speech on Rick Reed's blog and thought I would share it with you all.

Bond. James Bond.

So the hubby, the boy-child and I went to see Quantum Of Solace Friday night. We re-watched Casino Royale Thursday night in preparation. Which was a very good thing because otherwise I probably would've been lost. Er. Loster. More lost. Because frankly, the plots of both movies are a bit too dense and fast-moving for my poor brain O_O

Whatever, doesn't matter. I absolutely LOVED both movies. Casino Royale more so, because the Doomed Lurve plot really appealed to me. But the main reason I love them is the character of James Bond. I am finding that I prefer this new interpretation of Bond to the old one. The suave ladies man with the cool gadgets was neat in his own way, and of course Connery and Goldfinger are classic. I just find the stone-cold-killer Bond to be much more interesting. Daniel Craig takes the colder, deadlier Bond introduced by Pierce Brosnan and runs with it. Craig's Bond is one freakin' scary dude. I like that. IMHO, a guy with a license to kill SHOULD be scary.

Before anyone asks, no, that smokin' hot bod has nothing to do with it!

Okay, maybe a little. What can I say, the man fills out those Dr. No-style swim trunks veeeeery nicely *g*

What about it, y'all? Do you like the new Bond? Do you prefer classic Connery? Or smooth-and-slightly-campy Roger Moore? Or impossibly handsome Pierce Brosnan? Or hey, even the Sensitive Bond, Timothy Dalton? C'mon, I know you have an opinion, put it on out there :D

We always talk about the things we like, but...

...how about the stuff that just irritates the crap out of us? :P I know, I know! No one likes a Negative Nancy, but sometimes there are things in this world that just BUG YOU. You try to deal with those things with as much civility as possible, but nuh-uh. Ain't gonna happen. So this is a post where you can feel free to vent about all the annoying little things you can't stand! LOL!

(Just be good-natured about the venting, because one person's pet-peeve might be another's pet-comfort. *g*)

My peeves:

• Books or comics with gay characters who never get any. >_<
  
• The song "Your Beautiful" by James Blunt. Cheeeeee-zeeeeeee. >_<
  
• People who leave their garbage on tables at fast-food joints. C'mon, the trashcan is only five feet away. >_<
  
• Wet socks. Those are just awful, period. >_<
  

A taste

An undedited excerpt from my, as yet, untitled single author anthology coming out from Lethe Press.

Enjoy a little Vito and Don:

His statement caught me off guard. I stammered. "That's it?" I don’t know what I was expecting. I mean, I was back on the clock and all, but seemed odd to do the fun, gotta run routine.

"It?" Like he knew what I was thinking, Vito smirked.

"I mean, well, earlier." I was trying to put the jumble in brain into words and it wasn’t working real well. "We're done?"

"Yeah," Vito leaned in close and whispered, "for now."

I didn't really want it to be done. "I mean, you know," I hedged, "I could go for more. If you want?"

That got Vito laughing. "Ahh, you're so young." He teased.

"I'm thirty." I protested.

"And I'm past fifty." Vito slapped my chest with the back of his hand. I got to laugh when Vito hissed and shook out his hand. Kevlar hurt when you smacked it. "So," Vito glared, "you're young, just get used to that. I don't need it." His expression switched to one of his super sexy and naughty grins. "Fact, I can wait. I want to wait. 'Cause when I get you all naked and sweaty." Being naked and sweaty with Vito sounded like heaven. "I want to really enjoy it. When you mellow out a little, you start to figure out, a little delayed gratification adds that edge. Come on, wasn't there ever a guy you wanted so much and you had to wait and wait and when it finally happened…"

I didn't have much choice, about the waiting. Still, I could yank him some for making me. "Crappiest lay I ever had." I even managed to dead pan the statement.

Vito rolled his eyes and spread his palms up and out. "God hates me." Turning away, he walked out of the shed still talking, "I'm trying to teach you something," he lectured, "and you just ruin it." When I came up behind him, he twisted a little and whispered, "I'll try not to be the second crappiest lay you ever had."

"You're a piece of work, Vito."

"Took a lot of years to get here." Vito smacked my ass this time. I'm sure my eyes went huge, 'cause he started laughing. "Go on, kid." Vito stepped away and shooed me off with a flick of his hand. "Go back to work and be all amped up. 'Cause, I tell you, when you're with me…we go slow, goditi la vita. You need to stop trying to make it. Enjoy where you are."

"What, give up achieving?" I didn't leave. I didn't want to stop just hanging out with Vito. "Forget trying for Lieutenant?"

"No, but why make Sergeant if you can't enjoy being a Sergeant, ah?" He shrugged. "Take the time to really live." I thought he was going to hit me with more advice. Instead, he stepped away again and belted out in his deep rich voice, "It's now or never come hold me tight, kiss me my darling, be mine tonight. Tomorrow will be too late it's now or never, my love won't wait."

I jerked around, making sure no one was close. "What the hell?" There's being out and there's just plain drawing attention to things.

"Not hell, Caruso." Vito laughed. As he walked backwards, Vito sang, "Ma n'atu sole chiã, bello oi nã." Shit, the man could sing. "O sole mio sta 'nfronte a te!" And he was singing…to me. In Italian.

How fucking corney.

Sappy.

Goddamn romantic.

Shithead.

A Little Help From My Friends

This is less of a blog and more of a plea for help.

You see, one of my writer friends wants to interview me for her blog. But the truth is, as a person, I eclipse all previous standards of the ultimate in dull: an English teacher who writes books! Yeah, that’s original. My characters, on the other hand, are much more fun to play with. She said I could have a character from my upcoming release do the interview, but I’d have to come up with questions.

Since I already asked my characters pretty much all I thought I needed to know to tell their story, I need some help. I’d love it if some of you would throw me some questions for either Aaron or Joey from Collision Course. In return, I’m happy to cross promote with your website and name—or keep you completely anonymous if you prefer.

To help you out, here’s the blurb and here’s the first chapter. Also, there are some prequels over at my live journal here and here and the smutty one here. (Warning: It’s Joey’s first time and he and his high school boyfriend are both seventeen.)

If Joey were here, he’d totally be begging you with his big brown Bambi eyes. The best I can do is say please and thank you for help.

Drive-by Posting

I'm plugging away on my NaNoWriMo novel, or NaNovel as I like to call it for simplicity's sake. Gay paranormal investigators based in Seattle. So far there has been some rain, a little baseball, and a whole lot of coffee. But sadly no sex yet. I'm a little disappointed in my MMCs. I trust they'll get there eventually, but right now, with the whole business relationship thing, MMC1 feels it would be unprofessional to ask MMC2 out. Dear me and damn his ethics any way.

23,637 words and counting...

Some excerpts

I recieved great news this weekend by getting a recommended read for Dragon Riders 2: Reluctant Hearts from Loose-Id, but it's a M/F book, so it doesn't really fit here. But I'm still flying high on that news. :D

Time is flying so fast, I can barely keep up. There's NaNo this month (how many are doing it?), edits, the holiday season has begun and before we know it, it'll be Christmas! *yes, I said the C-word lol*
Speaking of Christmas, I have two holiday books being released the beginning of December and thought I'd drop off a couple little excerpts of one.

No Ordinary Holiday
by Marty Rayne
Genre: Contemporay/Menage a trois (M/M/F)
Release date: Dec. 8, 2008 at Phaze

Blurb:
As a descendent of Kris Kringle, a.k.a. Santa Clause, Devyn Rhodes has been bestowed with special abilities her family has coined as the gift. Only her late husband and those of blood relation has ever given her reprieve from the flashes and noise that surrounds her. That is until Cam and Jacob come knocking on her door. The silence aside, her unusual attraction to both men is almost overwhelming as the gift can be.

What’s a woman to do when she’s snowed in with two arousing men and lust comes calling?


Excerpt:
“You all right, Cam?” Jacob asked as he added another log to the fire. Devyn was in the kitchen. She’d insisted that she didn’t need any help. “Did something happen after I left?”

Cam refused to meet his eyes.

“Come on, man. This day’s been crazy enough. My poor mind is a scramble trying to figure out what the hell is happening.”

“Just tired. It’s been a long day.”

Bullshit. Jacob clenched his teeth. They were best friends. Told each other everything. Well, almost everything. He was guilty of not telling Cam about his desire or the dreams of making love to his best friend. Otherwise, they were five by five. Holy shit, he’d just used a term from Buffy the Vampire Slayer. This wasn’t good. His brain was turning to mush by the minute. And if he didn’t get sex soon…well, he didn’t know what would happen, but he’d be happy with some sort of release.

See, now he was sounding like Cam in his sluttish mode. Strange how he was a jumbled mess and Cam was the responsible, sullen one. Yes, the Earth was coming to an end.

“I’m going to check on Devyn.” He stood and walked toward the kitchen leaving Cam to stare at the fire. He didn’t need a light. Between the lamp she’d taken and the fireplace and lamp in the den, he had plenty of light to see where he was going.

He’d officially fell down the rabbit hole. First, Cam being closed lip and gazing off into who knows where, and now Devyn. With butter knife in hand and the fixings for roast beef sandwiches all around, she didn’t appear to notice she was in the middle of a task. Her striking dark eyes glazed over, lost in thought.

He was beside her before he spoke. “Dev?”

She startled. “Huh? Oh, Jacob, you scared me.” She appeared to study him with an interested expression. “Did you just call me Dev?”

Had he? “Uh, yes, I think I did. I’m sorry. It just came out.”

“No, no. That’s okay.” She smiled. The first one in a while. “I like it. No one’s ever called me that.”

His brow rose. “Really? Well, then, how can I not please you?” His head leaned closer to hers until his mouth was only a couple of centimeters from her ear. He only had to stick out his tongue to taste her.

************************************************
“I’m still stunned,” Jacob muttered and rubbed the back of his neck.

“You and me both, babe. But I’m not going to argue.” Cam took Jacob’s hand and gave it a squeeze. “You ready to give our scheming woman a show?”

“More than ready.”

Cam flashed Jacob a smile and hoped his teeth didn’t start chattering with nervous excitement. He reached out and let his fingers smooth down the front of Jacob’s shirt. Thankfully, his hand trembled only slightly.

“Do you know how long I’ve waited to do this?” Cam whispered.

Jacob let out a shaky laugh. Cam was glad that he wasn’t the only nervous one.

“But this isn’t the first time you’ve undressed me.” His voice was deep and husky.
Cam’s eyes widened slightly as the memory resurfaced. A night not long after they met. They’d just finished with college mid-terms and decided to let loose by going to some frat party. Jacob, who rarely drank, had overindulged. Cam was the one who’d dragged him back to the dorm room between bouts of vomiting.

Yes, Cam remembered that night very clear. That was the first time he’d seen Jacob completely exposed and discovered his friend’s occasional joy of going commando when he got an itch to be naughty.

“And I’ve had fantasies of you since that night.”
Jacob placed a hand over Cam’s. Their gazes locked and Cam knew Jacob was remembering what almost happened that night. That was then. This is now and there would be no stopping tonight.

Jacob let go of his hand and Cam’s fingers started releasing the buttons on the shirt. Disappointment edged through his lust when he revealed the wife-beater Jacob wore under his shirt. He’d anticipated skin to caress and kiss.

When Jacob shrugged out of the shirt, Cam tugged the bottom of the wife-beater from his pants. The tips of his fingers ran along the waistband. Jacob shivered, giving Cam a feeling of empowerment and renewed awe that his best friend had sexual feelings toward him.

“Please,” Jacob groaned softly.

“I thought we were going to give Devyn a show?”

Cam and Jacob turned their gazes to the woman who’d made this all possible. She was still standing in front of the roaring fire, but her gaze was concentrated on his hands. As if waking from a trance, realizing that they weren’t continuing, she blinked and looked up.

“Has anyone ever told the two of you that you look beautiful together?”

Cam’s eyebrow shot up and glanced at Jacob. They both shook their head.

“Well, you are.” She smiled and moved to sit on a pile of pillows. Her hands made a shooing gesture. “Go on. I’m sure there’s more fun things to do no matter how nice you too look.”

“She’s got a point,” Jacob chuckled.

Cam nodded, his throat closed with unnamed emotion.

Blogger's Block

I woke up today and saw my notification that it was my day to blog and I froze. I honestly did not have a thought in my head that I considered good enough to put here. My week was filled with big victories and big losses. I voted for Obama and won. I voted against Prop 8 and lost. It's been a very emotional few days here in the US, and for other countries as well.

But one thing that always, always makes me get my priorities in order are pictures of hot boys with sand all over their bodies. So, in lieu of a real post this morning, have a picture. I promise to be back in two weeks with more scintillating content. ;)

"Coming" Attractions

Still awaiting the release of my omnibus novella, Excitable Gals, featuring the MMF story "Leading Lady", from Loose ID. In the meantime, I'm looking forward to a few hot M/M works due to launch this weekend. If you're into historical or futuristic stories, you may wish to pick up some of these titles from Phaze Books on Sunday:

The Edge of Nothingness by Shayne Carmichael

Here's the blurb: At the age of ten, Zach witnessed the death of his mother and the kidnapping of his sister during a vampire raid on their village. He watched as his mother's killer was murdered by another vampire, then in turn Zach was saved from a burning fire by the vampire. For years, the memory of that night, and the face of the vampire who saved him have haunted him.

Talked into the insanity of a resistance backed raid on vampire territory, Zach comes face to face with the vampire he couldn't forget.

Another completely new world. A world of vampires who rule and the humans they keep captive.

This is a gritty work, but satisfying. If you are familiar with Shayne's stories (with or without Mychael Black), you may be familiar with the intense situations and passionate sex. Edge doesn't hold back, either. The characters are engaging and their turmoils are quite palpable.

Fertile Domain by Jude Mason

Until this point, the only works of Jude's I'd read were BDSM contemporaries with a focus on Femme Domme, or other subgenres with hetero heroes. Fertile Domain is a departure in the way that the primary relationship is M/M, and there is also MMF action. Here's the blurb:

In a world where pollution and greed has pushed humanity to the brink of extinction, fertility is one of the priorities. Men must prove themselves to fertile fems. For those who are lacking, or who cease to please the women, harsh treatment follows. Two new men, Jax and Trev, vie for a place among the elite 'studs' of a beautiful fem. Will they succeed, and will the love they feel for each other survive?

It's an intriguing story, told entirely from one hero's point of view. Jude has a way of putting you into the story with vivid detail, and who wouldn't want to be tossed into the midst of choice, potent studs who don't mind a little bi-side action? Heh.

Music to help the muses

I love pretty much anything when it comes to music, and shamelessly too! There's something about music that really helps spur creativity--it inspires through the emotions invoked in a powerful song or a sweet melody, while something with a fast, exciting beat keeps me going when I feel tired and tempted to quit. I've spent hours in second-hand shops scouring the CD bins to add to my collection, and Amazon's mp3 store has become my new best friend. As a result, I'm bopping my head along to this weird mix of songs and instrumentals by Yoko Kanno, Within Temptation, Creed, Buck Tick, Lifehouse, Staind, Queen, Seal, MercyMe, John Williams, Sarah McLachlan, Blue October, Verve...and the list goes on! Crazy, yeah?

So what tunes do you like to groove too? How about favorite movie scores? Don't laugh, but the score for Conan the Barbarian is GREAT for listening too while working on fantasy art. ;)

Gingerbread, anyone?

The Christmas bug has bitten my butt early this year. My hearth has stockings hanging on it, bows on the wall above it, and two (fake) poinsettia plants on either side. My Christmas tree is off to the left of it, lights on. My kitchen is Christmassy--table with a green brocade cloth, placemats, floral centerpiece; a poinsettia kitchen mat, oven mitts, potholders, and salt & pepper shakers.

Don't ask. I have NO idea why it hit me this early, but it's cool. :)

Anyway...

I have a short story coming from Torquere this Christmas as part of December's Holiday Single Shot Extravaganza. Titled "Gingerbread Men," it's just a little feel-good story of two best friends becoming a bit more...

Here's a little snip:

Jonas pushed the shopping cart down the aisle, rolling his eyes every time Keith threw something else into the buggy. "Jeez, man. I thought we were just doing gingerbread," he said, staring at the two thick steaks, the bottle of Worcestershire sauce, and the bottle of steak sauce.

"What? We gotta have dinner, too." Keith added a bottle of Cabernet Sauvignon. "Can't have steak without red wine."

Jonas just shook his head and gave up. Keith was a force to be reckoned with when he got set on a mission, though what mission he was on stumped Jonas. They finally made it to the check out, but before Jonas could even get his wallet out, Keith had already commandeered the credit card reader.

"Fine, but I'm paying you back."

"Oh, I don't doubt that," Keith said, somewhat under his breath. Jonas wasn't about to ask.

The groceries paid for and loaded into Keith's car, which he'd brought to the shop instead of his bike, they headed for Jonas' apartment downtown. Jonas stared out the passenger side window, chewing on his bottom lip and wondering how the hell he was going to get through the night. Before he knew it, they were home, Keith pulling into a parking space near the walkway leading to Jonas' front door. They both grabbed a bag and headed inside, Jonas' mind still on other things besides food.

"If you start the steaks, I'll start the gingerbread," Jonas said as he set his bags down on the counter.

"Steaks won't take that long. I'll help with the gingerbread a bit." Keith set the steaks in the fridge and put the wine off to the side.

Jonas got a mixing bowl down from the top cabinet and set it to his left. "Okay, get me the butter, one egg, and the buttermilk," he said as he pulled the flour canister over. "Oh, and the molasses. There's half a bottle in the cabinet to your right."

"Gotcha." Keith set everything on the counter. "What's next?"

"Ginger, ground clove, cinnamon, and brown sugar. Oh, and preheat the oven to 350."

"Done."

A few seconds later, Keith set three jars of spices and the box of brown sugar down. Jonas mixed the dry ingredients while Keith watched. Then he put the bowl to the side.

"Okay, now to cream the butter with the brown sugar and egg." Jonas put the butter in a shallow bowl and stuck it in the microwave for a few seconds. When Keith gave him a quizzical look, Jonas shrugged. "Softens it up for creaming."

"Soft is no fun."

Jonas nearly dropped the butter bowl, but managed to recover. "Um… Usually, no." He hoped he wasn't blushing as he focused on getting the stuff mixed. He knew Keith was staring at him. Hell, he felt it. Shoving those thoughts away, Jonas finished mixing the batter together, determined not to look Keith until he'd gotten himself under control. When the batter finished, Jonas scooped up some on his finger and licked it. "Damn, that's good."

"Really?" Keith stuck a finger in the dark brown batter, but instead of licking it himself, he touched his fingertip to Jonas' lips. "Taste…"

Throwing caution to the wind, Jonas closed his eyes to keep the need from showing in them, and he sucked the rich batter from Keith's skin. Then the finger was gone and something warm and wet slipped into Jonas' mouth. A split-second later, he realized it was Keith's tongue. Startled, Jonas jumped back, eyes wide, shock slamming into him when he saw the naked lust in his best friend's gaze.

"Keith, I--"

"No more." Keith hauled him close, not giving Jonas a chance to say another word. Those lips came down on Jonas' again, that tongue scrambling his brain. "No more, Jonas," Keith whispered.

"No more… what?" Jonas panted, shaken to the core.

"No more ignoring this. Should've done it a long time ago." Keith confused the hell out of him, but kissed him again, ensuring that Jonas had absolutely no time to even think about what he'd said.

New paperback collection by JM Snyder

NOW IN PRINT!

The Powers of Love Book 1: Origins
by J.M. Snyder

Three e-books in one collection: The Powers of Love, Matching Tats, and With This Ring.

Vic Braunson is a city bus driver who falls in love with Matt diLorenzo, a swimmer he meets at the gym. When they finally hook up, there’s no denying the energy between them. Something about Matt brings out the best in Vic ~ literally. Every time they have sex, Vic gains new superhuman powers from his lover. Can they learn to live with these abilities without losing each other?

Buy your copy at Amazon today!

America the beautiful

I'm Canadian, but I couldn't be prouder of Barack Obama's win if I was an American. I never thought I'd see a black First Family in my lifetime. How happy I am to be wrong!

Reckless Seduction is now available at Loose Id!

When nineteen year old Cody Bradbury gets his hands on an invitation to the hottest party of the year at The Casbah, an exclusive gay men’s club owned by his uncle, he doesn’t plan to let anything stand in his way of attending. With a stolen invitation, fake identification, and a hastily thrown together costume, Cody sneaks into the club during its annual Halloween party with the intention of checking out the action and possibly losing his long-despised cherry.

Cody can’t believe his good luck when Dante Santiago comes on to him. He’s had a hard-on for his uncle’s friend, Dante ever since he realized what his dick was good for. He’s so enamored of the older man that he doesn’t think twice when Dante starts referring to him as pretty boy, instead of by his given name.

He knows Dante wants his body, but is there any chance the older man might want more than an orgasm? There’s only one way to find out, and Cody plans to make it a night neither of them will ever forget.

Buy it now, or read a spicy excerpt!

An Inner Darkness, now available!

An Inner Darkness, fifth book in my Bay City Paranormal Investigations series, is now available from Samhain Publishing! This is the last book in the main series arc, but NOT the last book with BCPI. Dean's story comes out in January, and I'm already planning Adrian's story in my head. For when he grows up, of course :D

BLURB:

All hell’s about to break loose. Literally.

After more than a year as a couple—and plenty of bumps along the road—Sam Raintree and Dr. Bo Broussard are finally settling into life together. Bo has come to terms with his sexuality, their business is thriving, and Sam has begun to accept his role as a step-parent of sorts to Bo’s sons, Sean and Adrian. The only real dark spot is Bo’s ex-wife, Janine.

When eleven-year-old Adrian begins exhibiting signs of psychokinesis—the same ability which allows Sam to manipulate interdimensional portals—the friction between Sam, Bo and Janine escalates. Sam and Bo have reason to believe Adrian’s raw, uncontrolled talent poses a danger to him and those around him. Janine, however, believes Sam and Bo are encouraging dangerous delusions on Adrian’s part. Common ground is nonexistent, anger and hard words ever-present.

Caught in the middle of the conflict and burdened with an ability he can’t yet control, Adrian is soon pushed beyond his limits. With Adrian’s mind—and the lives of everyone around him—hanging in the balance, Sam and Bo race against time to save both boys and keep an otherworldly horror from breaking free.

Click here to read a PG excerpt and buy the book. Read on for an XXX-cert! Heh *g*

~*~*~*~*~

Adrian fell asleep in the truck halfway to Sam and Bo’s apartment. Bo carried him inside. Sam trailed behind with Adrian’s duffle bag. He set it beside the bed while Bo pulled off Adrian’s sneakers and tucked him under the covers. Bo pressed a gentle kiss to the boy’s forehead before following Sam out of the room and closing the door.

They brushed their teeth and changed out of their clothes without speaking. Sam had to remind Bo to take his anti-seizure medication. Bo took the capsules without argument, but it worried Sam that he’d forgotten. He’d been taking them ever since his seizure back in May, and hadn’t forgotten once until now.

When they switched off the light and climbed into bed, Bo still hadn’t said a word. Worried by Bo’s silence, Sam slipped his arm around Bo’s waist and molded his body to Bo’s back. “Are you all right?”

“No. I’m afraid, Sam.” Bo turned to look at Sam. His eyes glittered black in the low light bleeding through the curtains. “He’s safe tonight. But what about tomorrow night? And the night after that? What’s going to happen to him and Sean, if we can’t protect them?”

Sam’s heart twisted. He tightened his arm around Bo. “We just have to take it one day at a time. Do the best we can.”

Bo nodded, his hair tickling Sam’s face. “I know you’re right. It’s just so tempting to take them and run. Just get them both the hell out of here before…”

He didn’t finish the thought, but he didn’t have to. Sam kissed the shell of Bo’s ear. “You know we can’t do that. It’ll just put the kids in worse danger in the long run.”

“I know.” Bo drew a shaking breath. “God, I don’t know what to do. I’ve never felt more helpless in my life.”

A great fist seemed to close around Sam’s chest. He wished he could take away the despair in Bo’s voice.

“Try to sleep,” Sam whispered in Bo’s ear. “Things’ll look better in the morning.” It sounded false even to himself.

Bo let out a harsh laugh. “I can’t sleep. Right now I feel like I’ll never be able to sleep again.”

With no idea what to say or do, Sam buried his face in Bo’s neck and rubbed his hand in soothing circles on Bo’s chest, as if he could erase Bo’s fear with nothing but his touch.

Maybe you can, he thought when Bo’s heartbeat quickened against his palm. For a little while, at least.

Sam trailed his fingers lower, over the threadbare cotton of Bo’s T-shirt to the drawstring of the ancient hospital scrub pants he always wore to bed when he felt in need of comfort. A sharp tug loosened the bow. Sam slipped his hand inside and reached between Bo’s legs, cupping his balls in his palm.

Bo moaned. “Sam. I don’t know if—”

“Shhh.” Sam nuzzled behind Bo’s ear. He ran his fingertips over the head of Bo’s cock, which began to swell in his hand. “Just relax. Let me touch you.”

A tremor ran through Bo’s body when Sam’s fingers closed around his shaft and began to stroke. Hooking a thumb into the waistband of his scrubs, Bo shoved them down to mid-thigh. The drawstring dragged over Sam’s prick where it pressed against Bo’s ass. The thin material of Sam’s boxers did not a damn thing to reduce the sensation.

Wanting to feel skin on skin but unwilling to let go of Bo’s cock, Sam used the arm he was lying on to wriggle his boxers down as far as he could. When the garment was out of the way he squirmed until his erection lay nestled between Bo’s buttocks. It felt wonderful, just as it always did. His cock fit perfectly in the warm, welcoming crease of Bo’s ass, and his thighs molded to Bo’s as if they were parts of one whole.

Bo’s hand curved over Sam’s on his cock. “Sam. Please.”

Realizing he’d been lying there simply holding Bo for a couple of minutes now, Sam chuckled. “Sorry.” He began stroking again, swiping the pad of his thumb across Bo’s slit just to hear Bo’s near-silent gasps when he did it.

Letting the movement of his hand fall into a rhythm so familiar it was second nature, Sam rooted into the thick tresses pooling around Bo’s neck and breathed deep. Bo’s hair always smelled so good, fresh and clean as a spring morning. The underlying musk of sexual desire added a familiar lusty kick, the two blending into the scent Sam loved more than any other.

Fastening his mouth to the juncture of Bo’s neck and shoulder, Sam sucked the firm flesh. A hint of salt caressed his tastebuds. He pressed his tongue flat against Bo’s skin to gather as much of the sharp flavor as he could.

Bo shivered, his body arching against Sam’s. “Oh, God,” he whispered, thrusting into Sam’s hand. “Harder.”

Electricity shot through Sam’s insides. He obediently tightened his fingers around Bo’s shaft and pulled harder, faster. Bo growled and pushed his ass against Sam’s groin, and fuck but it felt good. Slipping his free hand beneath Bo’s neck, Sam curled his arm around Bo’s skull. His fingers dug into the silken warmth of Bo’s hair and tugged Bo’s head back, baring his neck for gentle open-mouthed kisses. Bo moaned, the sound low and sweet. His hips rocked, forward and backward and forward again, fucking Sam’s hand and rubbing his ass against Sam’s cock, until Sam was lost in a haze of heat and sensation.

For a while, the only sounds were their panting breaths and the faint squeak of the mattress with the movement of Sam’s arm. Excitement spiraled tight in Sam’s belly. There was something deliciously illicit about lying mostly dressed under the covers, humping against Bo’s ass while he jerked Bo off.

Bo’s breath hitched. His prick pulsed against Sam’s palm. “Oh fuck. Sam. Close.”

“That’s it,” Sam breathed, his fingers flying over Bo’s cock. “Come in my hand.”